Riaan Engelbrecht – författare

Our entire spiritual journey along with our free will boils down to either choosing to walk with Jesus (LIFE) or choosing the way of the world (DEATH). In God there is life, and life in abundance. Not just eternal life, but life in spirit, in soul and in body. Yet, there is a real difference between knowing of Him and knowing Him. In Him we abide in life, and walk in such life, but this calls for obedience to His Truth, to His Way and to His Kingdom. From a true relationship with the Lord, not religion, flows life and the blessings of such divine life. Be blessed on this journey, and know that God desires us to walk in life - but we need to choose. Either life, or death.

Volume 2 in the discipleship series offers a more in-depth guide to what it really means to be a disciple, exploring themes of holiness and authority, within the context of the Great Commission of Matthew 28

This is an in-depth study guide into the Holy Spirit, who is not a mere force. He is not energy. The Holy Spirit is a person and part of the Trinity along with the Father and the Son.

The Witches' Brew, Devious Gurus & Pied Piper Seducers Part 1 and 2  sketches an honest and no-holds-barred prophetic reality of the state of the Church and the dangers she faces. For make no mistake, we are living in times of great deception and apostasy, and the Church has been seduced, manipulated and tricked into believing the devil's schemes, lies and foolish wisdom and also embracing wilfully such a diabolical agenda. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to obeying and heeding God's command to walk in God's truth, perfect will, holiness, way and life. God is not a liar, yet we have heeded the destructive temptations of this world to be a loss at sea, tossed to and fro by every wind of teaching. We are in danger of slipping into a strange and captivating spiritual darkness as devious and dangerous enchantments seduce not just those in the world but especially so many in the church.

It we seek to find Life, we need to walk in the Kingdom of Life. We need to seek the Kingdom above all else, tor then we shall walk in God's order and in His will.

When it comes to deliverance, one finds a lot of strong reactions to it among Christians. Some will say that they want nothing to do with demons. Some will say that demons and hell simply do not exist. Some try to find the devil behind every bush. Some ignore the devil completely, calling him a figment of one's imagination or a symbolic expression or manifestation of mankind's inner journey of understanding pain and grief. Just as there are so many misconceptions about discipleship, God's Kingdom and the Holy Spirit, there are so many false concepts, teachings, ideas and doctrines regarding deliverance. Partly because we do not understand the spiritual realm, the spiritual war, the realm of the soul, and how God, as the Trinity, created man to be spirit, soul and body. Ignorance dictates our ways and conduct when it comes to setting the captives free. Deliverance, like healing, is not a separate ministry but forms part of the duty and service of any disciple in accordance with Matthew 28. Yes, we are all called to practise deliverance, meaning to set the captives free!  It is highly recommended to read all three volumes to be empowered to walk in freedom and to see the captives set free.

In 2 Timothy 3, Apostle Paul writes about the last days that will be perilous. And we should sit up and take note, because perilous denotes something which holds danger; thus, some things will happen that will pose a danger to believers. So why then is the perilous time so dangerous? Because it caused people to walk no longer in the light, but in darkness. It causes people to no longer walk in truth, but in deception. It leads to slavery, not freedom. We live in dark times where all things unholy, wicked and evil are celebrated. In such times, we need to learn how to overcome such deception as the Body of Christ! These are indeed days of great trials, tribulations and storms. A time to stand for the truth, to stand in faith and to shine the light as depravity, immorality and decadence engulf the world.

More than ever, there is a choice to be made – either we are living for God, or we will remain enslaved to a cruel world. We are called by Jesus to walk the narrow road, to deny the Self, to take up the Cross and to love the Lord above all. The road of the Lord leads to life. He is the Way. There is no other way to life. Not the way of money. Not the way of status or power. It is the way of the cross. We live in a time of darkness, hate, death, falseness, poverty, famine and plague. Across the world, there is evidence of war, conflict, murder, violence and the abuse of people. There are many reasons for such upheaval, yet the Lord reminds us that darkness only exists when light does not shine. Therefore, darkness is the absence of light. Hate is the absence of love. Cold comes when warmth is absent. Death reigns where there is no life. Darkness, death, coldness and hate cannot exist when the better half exists. For when light shines, there is no place for darkness. Darkness will always flee when the light comes, just as when the sun rises in the morning. When love is present, there is no room for hate and anger. The Church is on the threshing floor, for there is a separation between the light and the dark, the truth and the lie, and the holy and the unholy. We need to choose now to be the light, to love and God's will above all else. God is shaking the church. Shall we be found standing with Him and His Glory, or are we standing with the world?

The Church needs to urgently deal with the destructive 'isms' of our times, which include humanism, secularism, individualism, pessimism, existentialism, traditionalism, racism, and moral-revivalism, to name a few. They act like demonic strongholds that manipulate the truth, corrupt the mind, pollute the spirit, and lead people into slavery. Yet the church has hardly truly countered these forces in Spirit and truth, and so struggles with their deadly and destructive influences within her own ranks, while at the same time struggling to make an impact in the world. Just as Joshua needed to drive these pagan tribes from the land to thrive and prosper in the will of God, just so the Church needs to address the satanic ideologies, philosophies and narratives to walk in God's victory, power, and truth. Dealing with the "e;isms"e; is about deliverance, therefore, freedom in Christ.

In the Pitfalls and Dangers series, the last days as spoken about in 2 Timothy 3 are explored and dissected. Apostle Paul writes about such days being perilous, and we are certainly living in such a time. It will be a time which offers a great opportunity for the Church to fulfil the Great Commission, but it will also be a time of great danger, deception, and threats.  Perilous denotes something which holds danger; thus, some things will happen in the last days that will pose a danger to believers. At the same time, believers must also avoid such pitfalls lest they become perilous (a danger) to others. Perilous also speaks of great stress and trouble. These are indeed the days of great strife, apostasy, and deception, and more than ever, holding onto faith and God's truth has become of paramount importance. Wherever you turn, there are multitude of pitfalls and dangers to allure and tempt the believer away from the narrow road. This world has become spiritually dark, and it has become a spiritually dangerous place. The Bride of the Lord needs to walk in the Spirit of God to negate the entrapments, seductions, entanglements, and deceptions posed by the wide rod of carnality and demonic delights. Only in the truth of God and by His Spirit can the true Church be victorious in her divine mission.

This two-part study into discipleship explores what it means to be a disciple, within the context of the Great Commission of Matthew 28. Jesus provided us with the blueprint on how to be a disciple and how to make disciples. It has always been God's intention for us all (as followers of Christ) to be disciples, to do the work of a disciple (in the Spirit of God), and to make disciples. Through discipleship - God's Way - the eternal Kingdom is effectively and purposefully established and multiplied on earth. The Bible teaches that walking in holiness means living set apart for God—obedient, pure in heart, and guided by the Holy Spirit—and that this way of life carries real spiritual power. Holiness is not about perfection, but alignment with God—and when a believer walks in holiness, they walk in spiritual authority, freedom, and God's power at work through them.

This is an in-depth study guide into the Holy Spirit, who is not a mere force. He is not energy. The Holy Spirit is a person and part of the Trinity along with the Father and the Son. God is Sovereign, and just so God wills and moves according to His will. Just so, the Spirit of the Lord moves and acts never out of His own accord, but always follows the leading of the Father. So the Spirit is interdependent, as there is a mutual dependency within the Trinity. The work of the Spirit is far greater in scope than merely the spiritual gifts, for the Spirit of the Lord leads us in our calling on the narrow path to the glory of the Lord. It is of utmost necessity for the Church to be one that is utterly and completely Spirit-filled, and not led by the flesh. For only in the Spirit can we fulfil the Great Commission, be true disciples and walk in His truth, way and life.

If we seek to find true life, we need to walk in the ways of God's Kingdom. We need to seek the Kingdom above all else. We can only walk in the manifested reality and glory of the Kingdom once we walk by Spirit, implying surrendering first our kingdom, laying down our crown and denying the Self. If we seek His Kingdom, then our kingdom (our ways, agendas, ideas) needs to be surrendered. What we believe to be the truth, to be the right way, or the correct path, needs to be surrendered as we seek the true way of the Lord, which is the Way of the Kingdom. Jesus said He is the Way, Truth and Life, meaning He is the WAY of the Kingdom, and if we seek the Kingdom, then we need to follow the Lord Jesus in spirit and truth. For then we shall walk in God's order and His will. We are called by Jesus to walk the narrow road, to deny the Self, to take up the Cross and to love the Lord above all. There is no other way except in Jesus for sustained life in spirit, soul and body. Not the way of money. Not the way of status or power. We need to know and discern the ways of the Lord and to follow His path, which leads to quiet rivers and green pastures. In God, there is hope, joy and love. As we follow Him, we follow the way to spiritual peace, wisdom, power, and restoration.

More than ever, we live in the reality of 2 Thessalonians 2, which refers to the great falling away or rebellion. The Greek word translated "e;rebellion"e; or "e;falling away"e; in verse 3 of the Scripture is apostasia, from which we get the English word apostasy. It refers to a general defection from the true God, the Bible, and the Christian faith. In such perilous times of deception and spiritual corruption, a great need exists to seek the Lord, follow His will, obey His truths and follow His narrow path of holiness. An altar represents a place of worship, sacrifice, devotion, and covenant. Throughout Scripture, altars were places where people met with God. However, there were also false altars. False altars are anything upon which we place our trust, affection, identity, or devotion above God. To restore the altar is to be a living sacrifice in service of God – a servant who will not compromise with the world and who seeks only to glorify God above all. It speaks about building one's life on the foundation of Jesus, finding one's liberty and salvation in Him, and seeking no other god or fool's gold. Ruins of false altars, shattered pillars, broken foundations, and uprooted, poisoned roots are the spiritual work God desires to accomplish in every believer's life. Before God builds, He often tears down. Before He plants, He uproots. Before He establishes truth, He exposes and destroys lies. Only when we restore the spiritual altar, where the fire of God's Spirit burns, can we walk in God's light, and in doing so, navigate the spiritual storms. More than ever, we need to abide in God, burn for God in His Spirit as a living sacrifice, and yield our lives to His will and truth.

This volume of work explores how to walk in the victorious life of Christ. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) says, "e;For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."e; In Christ, we can lead a victorious life and a life of overcoming fear, uncertainty, strife and hopelessness. Christ is our hope of glory, and in Him, we do not have to fear, for the battle belongs to God! He is the Light, the Way and Life. God's grace, peace, and strength will get us through each day. When we are living in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will help us to move forward in victory. God will be our strength so that we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). The victorious Christian life is the life that is lived, by faith, in a moment-by-moment surrender to God. The victorious Christian life is rooted and grounded in faith. The victorious Christian life is a life that triumphs over everything that opposes the Kingdom of God. It is also about conquering fear, knowing God's peace and perseverance through trouble or hardship. Jesus Christ is the vine, the source of life and health and wholeness, and we are the branches, utterly dependent on the vine. As we abide in the Lord, we shall be victorious!

This is it. There is no more time. This is the final stand. The world has become very dark. The church is gripped in intense apostasy. There is no more time to play games.  The spiritual warfare is intense, yet the church would rather wants to ignore it. Yes, Church, this is the last stand of faith. Time is slipping away.  The days are perilous, wicked and drenched in deceit. Somewhere, somehow, the message has to sink into the Church: THIS IS THE FINAL STAND. What we do now will echo into the eternity. Are we going to continue to pursue our plans, or are we going to kneel as true warriors and bow before the Almighty? Time is running out. There is a battle to be fought. So many are held as slaves, yet God, by His Blood and His Word and Spirit, empowers His warriors to pierce the darkness. Jesus has not come yet, so there is a time to take a stand. The spiritual war is real; make no mistake about this reality. War is defined as a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. The spiritual battle can be defined as a war, for there is a conflict between the Kingdom of God and the already defeated yet functioning kingdom of the devil. As gravity affects all on earth, so does the spiritual war impact our lives daily from the rising to the setting of the sun. Let us be equipped, empowered and trained in knowledge to understand the war and its manifold ramifications on humanity. Let us stand for the eternal King and the eternal Kingdom.

There is a road we have to walk – it is our spiritual journey through life. It is our Emmaus walk where we become aware of God's Presence and His indwelling Spirit within us. The goal of our spiritual journey is to realise God is real, that God is alive, and God has always been present, just as Jesus was present with those who walked to Emmaus. We then need to endure on this journey and overcome this world to walk in God's victory. The world is full of stories of Jesus, yet the world is also full of lies and deception. We can only know the truth when we meet the Truth. This calls for a real relationship with the Lord, seeking Him and walking with Him daily in Spirit and truth. When we truly 'walk' with the Lord, our eyes are open to the truth, we burn with His passion for the lost, and our souls are stirred by His beauty, majesty, grace, and love.

Our entire spiritual journey, along with our free will, boils down to either choosing to walk with Jesus (LIFE) or choosing the way of the world (DEATH). In God there is life, and life in abundance. Not just eternal life, but life in spirit, in soul and in body. Yet, there is a real difference between knowing of Him and knowing Him. In Him we abide in life, and walk in such life, but this calls for obedience to His Truth, to His Way and to His Kingdom. From a true relationship with the Lord, not religion, flows life and the blessings of such divine life. The Life and Death series is a volume of work stretching over many years, guided by the Holy Spirit, for the disciples of the Lord to understand that we can walk in life, yet this calls for remaining true to the Word, to His Will, to His Ways and His Kingdom. May we choose God, and then we choose His life of beauty, hope and wonder. If we choose the broad path, we wander the hallways of spiritual corruption, moral bankruptcy and ultimately, self-destruction in spirit, soul and body. Jesus gave His life so that we may walk in His abundant life of grace, mercy and love.

Mankind stands at a most critical time. A deserted bell rings over a deserted field. It is a hollow sound, eerie, almost foreboding. It is the bell that one hears in the wake of death or at that very moment of impending doom and danger. It is the toll that brings a chill to one's bones. For when that forlorn watchman on a fortress wall hears that bell through misty currents, and it is like a death-grip unto the soul. It is the bell that echoes the alarming truth that mankind has lost its true faith. A faith buried, tortured and left in the dungeon. More than ever, we need to return to the Lord Jesus, and His Ways, to His Kingdom, to His Life and Light as the world slips deeper into moral depravity and self-destruction. These are days of apostasy and heresy where the Truth of the Lord has been discarded and trampled upon, yet His Truth shall forever stand as a bastion - calling us home and providing refuge and shelter to those who believe, who hope and who trust in the Lord. His Truth shall remain standing, no matter the demonic storms or the twisted narratives of the world. His Truth leads to glory, everlasting hope, and eternal peace.

Evangelism has been discussed over and over, yet it still seems many Christians are not engaging in evangelism. It seems some think they are not called to evangelise, or not equipped or not trained.  The truth is, if we follow Jesus, then we are called to evangelise, which is nothing more than telling someone about Jesus. From the outset, evangelism is the work and duty of EVERY believer, thus any disciple of the Lord. It is the duty of any disciple to fulfil the Great Commission, which includes making disciples and sharing the Gospel. In Christianity, you can say evangelism is the commitment to or act of publicly preaching (ministry) of the Gospel with the intention of spreading the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. May we tell the world of Jesus, for He is the only one who can save us. After all, we all need a Saviour, and Jesus as the Saviour of the world is far greater than any superhero.

There is a clear and intentional onslaught against the spiritual 'gates'. This is not an attack for the 'now' but an attack that has always existed. This is an attack that is escalating, intensifying, and becoming more vicious. It is an attack to lead people away from God, thus an attack to destroy the person. And we are talking here about the 'gate' – entry point – of nations, of cities, of homes, of families, and our very lives. A gate is a strategic point. It is a point of legally 'controlling' what goes in and out of the 'city'. The enemy is laying siege to gain entry, for once he has entered through the 'gate', he comes to steal, to destroy, and to kill. For the Lord has shown the enemy has come like an assassin, like a thief, and as a destroyer. We need to guard the gates of our spirit, soul, and body to abide in the Lord, in His truth and will. Only then shall we overcome the lies, the onslaughts, and the forces that seek to destroy us. Only then shall we walk in victory. This two-part series explores how we can guard the 'gates' so that hell will not prevail and we can walk in God's glory and triumph.

In Christianity, forming a spiritual vision means aligning your life, purpose, and direction with God's will as revealed through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Biblical spiritual vision means seeing life through God's eyes, understanding His will through Scripture and the Spirit, being led by God's presence instead of human desires, living out God's purpose with clarity, faith, and obedience, and keeping Christ as the centre of everything. Without vision, we are spiritually blind, like Saul before he became Paul. When we are blind, we cannot discern the truth, see the darkness, or know what is false or demonic. The closer we draw to God, and the more we yield to the Spirit of the Lord, the more we behold His Kingdom, and in the light of His Presence, the darkness is exposed. True vision begins with God. Biblical vision is not self-made; it comes from God's revelation. At the moment of spiritual surrender unto God, the visibility of physical sight and senses surrenders unto eternal and everlasting spiritual vision, for unto that moment the eyes of faith open and the sight of flesh ceases in perception, knowledge and understanding. By such a spiritual awakening and rebirth of vision, as we yield to the powerful and glorious work of the Holy Spirit, our journey into the spiritual begins as we discover the true meaning of deep crying out of the deep. As we abandon ourselves to God, we connect to divinity, and so our reality, world and senses are flooded by His sweet and majestic touch and glory.